are the ferrules really necessary?
07-18-10, 11:13 PM
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are the ferrules really necessary?
I just finished installing some Tektro inverse brake levers onto my Velo Orange porteur bars. Feeling quite proud of myself, I thought everything was going well, until I reread the directions:
(see attachment... flickr link not working)
the ferrule that was with my old brake levers did not fit in the new ones, so I just took them off, and the housing fit snug in the brake lever housing, so it seemed fine. Is it fine? Now I am worried.
(see attachment... flickr link not working)
the ferrule that was with my old brake levers did not fit in the new ones, so I just took them off, and the housing fit snug in the brake lever housing, so it seemed fine. Is it fine? Now I am worried.
Last edited by alr; 07-18-10 at 11:16 PM.
07-18-10, 11:43 PM
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On the set you have you do need the ferrules on your break levers.My shimano break levers did not need them so I was lucky.I did try to install them but it would not fit on my break levers.Just take it all back off and put them on then reinstall not hard to do at all.The more you learn about bicycle repair the better off you will be and can help others.
07-19-10, 02:10 AM
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According to Lennard Zinn, anytime you can actually fit ferrules on the housing and into whatever slot/guide they're connected to, you should use them. They keep the cable from kinking over time.
07-19-10, 07:50 AM
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First thing I was taught as a mechanic: Every part costs money even if it's only a penny. Nobody wastes moneys making unnecessary parts.
Ferrules make the uneven cut end of a housing even, and support it squarely against the mating part. Where that part rotates, such as the cable adjuster, they're doubly important to prevent rough cable ends from cutting into the bottom of the part. Index housing requires special square bottomed ferrules to prevent the conical bottom of mating parts from forcing the strands inward narrowing the opening, or extruding through the fitting.
That said, the least important place for a ferrule is where aero brake cables enter the lever. There's no rotation, and the bar tape completely stabilizes the housing. Anywhere else, use a ferrule if at all possible.
Ferrules make the uneven cut end of a housing even, and support it squarely against the mating part. Where that part rotates, such as the cable adjuster, they're doubly important to prevent rough cable ends from cutting into the bottom of the part. Index housing requires special square bottomed ferrules to prevent the conical bottom of mating parts from forcing the strands inward narrowing the opening, or extruding through the fitting.
That said, the least important place for a ferrule is where aero brake cables enter the lever. There's no rotation, and the bar tape completely stabilizes the housing. Anywhere else, use a ferrule if at all possible.
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07-19-10, 08:31 AM
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If you ground off the end of the housing to square it after cutting to length, it is optional as FB says, a non-square end will cause a bit
of angulation of the housing relative to the cable, increased under brake stress, with slight increase in friction. Probably not a problem
with brake cables routed under the bar wrap, but side exit cables will move more.
of angulation of the housing relative to the cable, increased under brake stress, with slight increase in friction. Probably not a problem
with brake cables routed under the bar wrap, but side exit cables will move more.
07-19-10, 09:30 AM
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First thing I was taught as a mechanic: Every part costs money even if it's only a penny. Nobody wastes moneys making unnecessary parts.
Ferrules make the uneven cut end of a housing even, and support it squarely against the mating part. Where that part rotates, such as the cable adjuster, they're doubly important to prevent rough cable ends from cutting into the bottom of the part. Index housing requires special square bottomed ferrules to prevent the conical bottom of mating parts from forcing the strands inward narrowing the opening, or extruding through the fitting.
That said, the least important place for a ferrule is where aero brake cables enter the lever. There's no rotation, and the bar tape completely stabilizes the housing. Anywhere else, use a ferrule if at all possible.
Ferrules make the uneven cut end of a housing even, and support it squarely against the mating part. Where that part rotates, such as the cable adjuster, they're doubly important to prevent rough cable ends from cutting into the bottom of the part. Index housing requires special square bottomed ferrules to prevent the conical bottom of mating parts from forcing the strands inward narrowing the opening, or extruding through the fitting.
That said, the least important place for a ferrule is where aero brake cables enter the lever. There's no rotation, and the bar tape completely stabilizes the housing. Anywhere else, use a ferrule if at all possible.
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07-19-10, 09:49 AM
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It is needing the housing end flat where it is cut, [file or grinding wheel] at a minimum.
there are stepped down ferrules machined of aluminum, to resolve the situation you describe.
there are stepped down ferrules machined of aluminum, to resolve the situation you describe.
07-19-10, 09:14 PM
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Everyone, thanks for the input. These cables will be under bar tape and the ends of the housing are even and nice and smooth, so I will forthwith, consider the ferrule optional in my application. I would have to completely undo the cable from the centerpull yolk (again) and take it out of the housing to put a ferrule at this point, and it is a total PITA-- I would rather leave as is, so I think I will.
07-19-10, 09:46 PM
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Everyone, thanks for the input. These cables will be under bar tape and the ends of the housing are even and nice and smooth, so I will forthwith, consider the ferrule optional in my application. I would have to completely undo the cable from the centerpull yolk (again) and take it out of the housing to put a ferrule at this point, and it is a total PITA-- I would rather leave as is, so I think I will.
07-20-10, 09:51 AM
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ferrules are especially imprtant where you have barrel adjusters and things like that, you often won't be able to get a barrel adjuster to rotate if you don't have a ferrule there to smooth things out.
I built a bike last saturday night over too many beers and tonight I have to go back through and put ferrules on everything cause I was drinking.
I built a bike last saturday night over too many beers and tonight I have to go back through and put ferrules on everything cause I was drinking.
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